If you need to go through the “mediocre white male” rigamarole to justify to yourself a better wage, so be it. This MWM is happy for you. I’d maybe go with some

If you need to go through the “mediocre white male” rigamarole to justify to yourself a better wage, so be it. This MWM is happy for you. I’d maybe go with something more like “I’m worth it” or “having confidence in myself is a good thing on its own” but again, whatever works.